'I don’t think you can get a better semi-final': Chesterfield boss Paul Cook relishing play-off clash with Notts County
Manager Paul Cook predicts that Chesterfield and Notts County will put on a show worthy of the League Two play-offs when they lock horns once more on Sunday.
The history of the two rivals has mirrored each other in recent years, with both dropping into the National League and then coming back to mix it at the top of the fourth tier.
County pipped the Spireites to promotion back to League Two in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley three years ago before Chesterfield went up the following season.
They both made the play-offs last year but now meet head on in the first leg at Chesterfield on Sunday (6pm) and the return next Friday.
"I don’t think you can get a better semi-final than what we’ve got,” Cook told the Derbyshire Times. “County are an excellent team with very good players and they’re well coached.
"I don’t think we have a bad game with them, they’re always decided by a narrow margin, and I feel both clubs will put on a really good game again.
"It is going to be difficult for us but we’d like to think it will be the same for them."
Chesterfield did the double over County this season on the way to sixth place and a tally of 79 points, one behind County.
The Spireites also go into the play-offs in their best groove of the season, unbeaten in eight.
Cook said: "I always think in leagues that to get above 80 points is gold, so for us to get to 79 I’ve got to say ‘well done’ to the players for that.
“77 points went up automatically last season, so it depends what side you fall on.
"While people will think we left a lot of points out there, every team feels the same.
"For me, the players have really gelled at the end of the season and we’ve had some really big wins in there against Grimsby, Crewe and Swindon.
"They’ve come together well and got good points when we needed to.”
Just three points separated the four semi-finalists book-ended by Salford, in fourth, and Grimsby Town, in seventh, who meet in the other semi-final.
Cook added: "You have four teams in the play-offs who finished within a hair’s breadth of each other and it sums up what the play-offs will bring. They will be tight in my opinion.
"May the best team win and I’ll be the first to congratulate Notts County if it’s them who go to Wembley.”